N-648 medical exception

[ojetbone 0]

My father in law wants to apply for his citizenship but he has difficulty reading and writing although he is from Jamaica and speaks broken English he did not attend school because in those days it was more important to farm the land( he is almost 60 years old and has been in the us for about 15 years.

has any one applied for the exception under the category of literacy difficulties ? and if so what type of Medical professions did you see ?

I hope some one can help

[KyngSilva 0]

As per the Naturalization Guide

Age — There are three important exemptions

for English testing based on an applicant’s

age and time as a Permanent Resident:

(a) If you are over 50 years old and

have lived in the United States as

a Permanent Resident for periods

totaling at least 20 years, you do

not have to take the English test. You

do have to take the civics test in the

language of your choice.

(B) If you are over 55 years old and

have lived in the United States as

a Permanent Resident for periods

totaling at least 15 years, you do

not have to take the English test. You

do have to take the civics test in the

language of your choice.

This is all the info that was posted on their site. I hope it helps. I have never applied for that nor know of anybody who has. Good luck.

[KyngSilva 0]

After reading your post a little more closely I realized that you were not asking for the information on the website. Sorry!

[queendlee 1]

My father in law wants to apply for his citizenship but he has difficulty reading and writing although he is from Jamaica and speaks broken English he did not attend school because in those days it was more important to farm the land( he is almost 60 years old and has been in the us for about 15 years.

has any one applied for the exception under the category of literacy difficulties ? and if so what type of Medical professions did you see ?

I hope some one can help

No offense, but I find that odd, my grandparents, great grand parents and my parents (in their 60's) (all Jamaicans) all were expected to go to school at least enough to read and farm land also.... hopefully your IO does not find that odd too... those English exceptions are usually for non-English speakers not for literacy and Jamaica is a English speaking country.

anyhow you can try to apply for citizenship exemptions, but they do them in the speakers native language and his is english. I don't think illiteracy counts as a mental defect.

check out

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...0004718190aRCRD

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/M-685.pdf

Exemptions from English and Civics Requirements

Some applicants are exempt from the English requirements for naturalization based on their age and amount of time as a permanent resident. These applicants must still take the civics test.

You do not take the English test if you are

Lived as permanent resident in the United States for

You still take the

Age 50 or older

20 years

civics test in your language

Age 55 or older

15 years

civics test in your language

Age 65 or older

20 years

simplified civics test in your language

Applicants with a physical or developmental disability or a mental impairment so severe that it prevents acquiring or demonstrating the required knowledge of English and civics, may be eligible for an exception to these requirements. To request this exception, you must file a Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, Form N-648.

USCIS provides accommodations or modifications for applicants with physical or mental impairments that make it difficult for them to complete the naturalization process. In order for USCIS to have enough advance notice to respond to accommodation requests, applicants are encouraged to state their needs on the place provided in the Application for Naturalization, Form N-400.

Edited March 25, 2009 by queendlee

[ojetbone 0]

My father in law wants to apply for his citizenship but he has difficulty reading and writing although he is from Jamaica and speaks broken English he did not attend school because in those days it was more important to farm the land( he is almost 60 years old and has been in the us for about 15 years.

has any one applied for the exception under the category of literacy difficulties ? and if so what type of Medical professions did you see ?

I hope some one can help

No offense, but I find that odd, my grandparents, great grand parents and my parents (in their 60's) (all Jamaicans) all were expected to go to school at least enough to read and farm land also.... hopefully your IO does not find that odd too... those English exceptions are usually for non-English speakers not for literacy and Jamaica is a English speaking country.

anyhow you can try to apply for citizenship exemptions, but they do them in the speakers native language and his is english. I don't think illiteracy counts as a mental defect.

check out

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...0004718190aRCRD

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/M-685.pdf

Exemptions from English and Civics Requirements

Some applicants are exempt from the English requirements for naturalization based on their age and amount of time as a permanent resident. These applicants must still take the civics test.

You do not take the English test if you are

Lived as permanent resident in the United States for

You still take the

Age 50 or older

20 years

civics test in your language

Age 55 or older

15 years

civics test in your language

Age 65 or older

20 years

simplified civics test in your language

Applicants with a physical or developmental disability or a mental impairment so severe that it prevents acquiring or demonstrating the required knowledge of English and civics, may be eligible for an exception to these requirements. To request this exception, you must file a Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, Form N-648.

USCIS provides accommodations or modifications for applicants with physical or mental impairments that make it difficult for them to complete the naturalization process. In order for USCIS to have enough advance notice to respond to accommodation requests, applicants are encouraged to state their needs on the place provided in the Application for Naturalization, Form N-400.

firstly I like to thank both of you for your advise as I was completely unaware of these regulations, secondly I was not implying that Jamaicans of his generation did not go to school , I was just giving a brief explanation to why he was unable to read or write that all. (no offend taken )

[queendlee 1]

No problem... I just read that you can find citizenship courses and english courses geared at helping people pass the verbal and written parts of the test... they usually offer these at community colleges... try to check these out and see if these will benefit him so he won't be denied citizenship.